Ethylene in Vegetable Crop Production – Current Status and Problems

I. DIMOV

Maritsa Vegetable Crops Research Institute, BG-4003 Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Abstract

DIMOV, I., 2000. Ethylene in vegetable crop production – current status and problems. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 6: 669-674

Literature on the role of the phytohormone ethylene and the benefit of ethylene-producers to vegetable crop production and storage is reviewed.
Results with ethylene-producers during a long period of investigation (1982-1997) at the Maritsa Vegetable Crops Institute, Plovdiv, are summarized. The exogenous ethylene has a positive effect on bud and flower formation, fruit set of tomatoes and peppers, etc. Fruit morphological parameters and seeds are not modified. It has been established that the outer cloves of winter garlic are reduced.
Perspectives of scientific investigation in the future in the field of vegetable crop production are discussed.

Key words:ethylene, ethrel, flordimex, yield, vegetable crops